Boss Brendan Rodgers claims “ignorance” and “lack of knowledge” underpinned the criticism of Celtic and Scottish football by radio presenter Jason Cundy.

After Celtic’s 4-0 win at bottom side Inverness on Wednesday night – which took them 27 points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership – the former Chelsea defender described the standard in the top flight in Scotland on his TalkSport show as “embarrassing”.

The ex-Ipswich and Tottenham player also claimed the Hoops would struggle to beat Stoke City if they were in the Premier League while questioning the popularity of the Glasgow club in terms of supporters.

“The footballing world is more than the Premier League. We all want to see and we all love the Premier League and I was involved in it and it is a fantastic league but football is global and of course a club like Celtic is one of the biggest in the world.

“But if your eyes are only on one league then of course you tend to ignore what is happening around that. He is a good boy Jason, I know him well but I probably understand what he is trying to do with his comments.

“He will always be welcome to Celtic Park and he would be surprised I am sure.”